On April 17, it was announced through the official Hello! Project website that Rio Kitagawa, a member of the idol group Morning Musume '25, will be suspending her activities for the time being.

The statement explains that a recent incident came to light which violated Hello! Project’s internal rules, and Kitagawa has admitted to the facts. Taking into account the feelings of her fellow members and Kitagawa’s own wish to step back and reflect, the decision was made for her to go on hiatus. A timeline for her return will be shared at a later date.

The issue stems from content believed to have been posted by Kitagawa on social media, which included apparent complaints about her fellow group members and what appeared to be secretly taken photos of them. The incident sparked widespread concern among fans. Kitagawa issued an initial apology on her blog on April 14.

In the official statement released today, Kitagawa reiterated her apology, stating:

“I deeply apologize for my immature behavior that has caused concern and discomfort to our fans. I have also personally apologized to each member I hurt.”

She went on to explain that the content in question came from private conversations with a female friend from university, with whom she was exchanging messages about daily life and work via social media.

“Some of the things I wrote were exaggerated, and I also used inappropriate expressions without fully understanding their implications,” she admitted. “It was a careless act on my part, and I recognize how thoughtless it was.”

Kitagawa concluded her message by expressing her sincere regret to fans, staff, and her fellow members, and emphasized her intention to take this period as a time for self-reflection.